Friday, Jan. 27, 2023 – Matthew 27
We end our week reading the arrest, trial, and death of Jesus. The chapter starts with Judas following through with his betrayal. We then witness the regret and shame that lay upon him. “I have sinned, for I have betrayed an innocent man.”
The sin that Judas has committed has deemed him the one who has betrayed Jesus, but Judas is far from the only sinner in the story. Just as Jesus prophesies that one of his own will betray him, so he prophesies that one of his own will deny him and that at the critical moment, all of his disciples will scatter.
During Jesus’ trial, we witness Peter going against his allegiance, and denying his loyalty to Jesus three times. Just like Judas, he weeps and regrets his failure to commit to Jesus.
Throughout the events that take place leading up to the death of Jesus, many sins occur from the apathy of Pilate to the very acts done by those abusing Jesus. We read this, and we ask, “is this necessary?”
In the midst of Jesus’ pain, he utters, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” As Jesus accepts the death that he had foretold to his followers, he dies alone in abandonment. As readers know that Jesus came to seek and save the lost. The lost include the very people watching him die. The Son of Man saved his abusers by not saving himself. As we mourn the death of God, we long for the day he conquers it. We crave the resurrection that is inevitable, that tears through death and mends humanity to its Creator.
As I read this chapter, I can’t get my mind off Judas and the shame that flooded his soul as he watched the consequences of his actions. I compare him to Peter, one of the other betrayers of Christ that day. The difference is that Peter is deemed as the Rock that the Church was built on.
When I compare Peter and Judas, the difference between shame and accountability come to mind. Brene Brown defines shame as “the intensely painful feeling of believing that we are flawed and therefore unworthy of love.” It’s the difference between “I am bad” and “I did a bad thing.”
Peter, although held accountable for his failure to commit to Christ in those moments leading up to the cross, was not defined by his shortcomings. Peter went on the share the Gospel and spread the love of Christ beyond the crucifixion.
The reality we see in the Passion narrative of Jesus is that our actions do not strip us of the love that is poured out onto us by the grace of God. Christ has mercy for Judas.
As we read this narrative, may we not be defined by our actions. May we not shame others for their actions, but rather hold them accountable for the injustices.
Questions for reflection:
- When do you find yourself feeling ashamed? How can you accept grace for yourself?
- How do we hold others accountable for their actions without stripping them of dignity?
- Do you have mercy for Judas? Do you think God has mercy for Judas?